How Did a Nitrous Oxide Crash That Killed an 18-Year-Old Lead to a 6-Year Prison Sentence?

A 23-year-old Swiss man has been sentenced to six years and six months in prison after an appeal court found he intentionally caused a fatal crash while driving under the influence of nitrous oxide. An 18-year-old passenger died in the crash and four other people were seriously injured.

What happened in the 2021 crash

The crash dates back to 2021, when the driver, then 18, lost control of his car after taking nitrous oxide. The car hit a guardrail, and about 250 metres further on there was a second impact, before the vehicle ended its run against a wall near the entrance to a tunnel on a motorway in Basel-Landschaft.

An 18-year-old passenger died in the crash. Four other people were seriously injured.

The appeal and the increased sentence

In 2025, the Criminal Court had sentenced the driver to four years and nine months in prison. All parties involved appealed against that sentence.

On Friday 16 October 2026, the Basel-Landschaft Cantonal Court found that the young man had acted with intent, not negligence. It convicted him of intentional homicide and multiple attempted homicide, and raised his sentence to six years and six months in prison. A suspended fine was also imposed.

Compensation for the victims

The Cantonal Court also increased the compensation compared with the first-instance ruling. The young man must pay five-figure sums to the family of the victim and to the people injured in the crash.

Frequently asked questions

What was the driver convicted of?

The 23-year-old was convicted of intentional homicide and multiple attempted homicide.

How long is the prison sentence?

The Basel-Landschaft Cantonal Court sentenced him to six years and six months in prison, increasing the four years and nine months imposed in 2025.

When and where did the fatal crash happen?

The crash happened in 2021 on a motorway in Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland, when the driver, then 18, lost control of his car after taking nitrous oxide.

Who died in the crash?

An 18-year-old passenger died in the crash. Four other people were seriously injured.

Why was the sentence increased on appeal?

The appeal judges found that the driver had acted with intent rather than negligence, and raised the sentence and the compensation owed to the victim's family and the injured.